Information processing apparatus, communication terminal, and non-transitory storage medium storing instructions executable by information processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus and a communication terminal can carry out first wireless communication and second wireless communication. The first wireless communication is established when a distance between the information processing apparatus and the communication terminal is equal to or less than a first distance. The information processing apparatus determines whether data communication is to be carried out over the first wireless communication or the second wireless communication. When the data communication is to be carried out over the first wireless communication, the information processing apparatus carries out the data communication over the first wireless communication. When the data communication is to be carried out over the second wireless communication, the information processing apparatus carries out data communication of first setting information with the communication terminal over the first wireless communication to establish the second wireless communication and carries out data communication over the second wireless communication.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/850,170 filed on Apr. 16, 2020, which is acontinuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/687,783filed on Aug. 28, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,631,216 issued on Apr. 21,2020, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/797,903 filed on Jul. 13, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,749,920,issued on Aug. 29, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/203,985 filed on Mar. 11, 2014, now U.S. Pat.No. 9,086,830, issued on Jul. 21, 2015 and claims priority from JapanesePatent Application No. 2013-066239, which was filed on Mar. 27, 2013,the disclosures of each of which are herein incorporated by reference intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatuscommunicable with a communication terminal, the communication terminal,and a non-transitory storage medium storing a plurality of instructionsexecutable by a processor of the information processing apparatus.

Description of the Related Art

There is known a technique for carrying out wireless communicationbetween two communication devices. For example, the two communicationdevices use short-distance wireless communication (i.e., wirelesscommunication according to NFC (Near Field Communication) standard) tocarry out communication for wireless settings. These wireless settingsare used for carrying out wireless communication according to acommunication standard (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b) that differs fromthe NFC standard. Accordingly, the two communication devices can carryout wireless communication according to the wireless settings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To switch a communication path from the short-distance wirelesscommunication to the wireless communication according to the wirelesssettings, there is a need to execute various kinds of processings. Also,the switch of the communication path may cause a switching time in whichno communication can be carried out. Considering a load of processingand a time required for communication, there are two cases in which datashould be transferred over the short-distance wireless communicationwithout any switch of the communication path and in which data should betransferred over the wireless communication after the switch of thecommunication path.

The present invention provides an information processing apparatusincluding: a first communication interface configured to carry out firstwireless communication with a communication terminal according to afirst communication standard; a second communication interfaceconfigured to carry out second wireless communication with thecommunication terminal according to a second communication standard; aprocessor; and a memory configured to store a plurality of instructions.The plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, cause theinformation processing apparatus to execute: a first communicationprocessing in which the first communication interface establishes thefirst wireless communication when a distance between the communicationterminal and the first communication interface is equal to or less thana first distance; a first-information obtaining processing in which theinformation processing apparatus obtains first information; adetermination processing in which the information processing apparatusdetermines, based on the first information obtained in thefirst-information obtaining processing, whether data communication is tobe carried out with the communication terminal over one of the firstwireless communication and the second wireless communication; a secondcommunication processing in which when the information processingapparatus determines, in the determination processing, that the datacommunication is to be carried out with the communication terminal overthe first wireless communication, the information processing apparatuscarries out the data communication with the communication terminal overthe first wireless communication established in the first communicationprocessing; and a third communication processing in which when theinformation processing apparatus determines, in the determinationprocessing, that the data communication is to be carried out with thecommunication terminal over the second wireless communication, theinformation processing apparatus carries out data communication of firstsetting information with the communication terminal over the firstwireless communication established in the first communication processingto establish the second wireless communication with the communicationterminal and carries out data communication with the communicationterminal over the second wireless communication.

The present invention also provides a communication terminal including:a first communication interface configured to carry out first wirelesscommunication with an information processing apparatus according to afirst communication standard; a second communication interfaceconfigured to carry out second wireless communication with theinformation processing apparatus according to a second communicationstandard; a processor; and a memory configured to store a plurality ofinstructions. The plurality of instructions, when executed by theprocessor, cause the communication terminal to execute: a firstcommunication processing in which the first communication interfaceestablishes the first wireless communication when a distance between thecommunication terminal and the first communication interface is equal toor less than a first distance; a first-command-information obtainingprocessing in which the communication terminal uses the firstcommunication interface to obtain, from the information processingapparatus, first command information for commanding data communicationwith the information processing apparatus over the first wirelesscommunication; a second communication processing in which when the firstcommand information is obtained in the first-command-informationobtaining processing, the communication terminal carries out the datacommunication with the information processing apparatus over the firstwireless communication established in the first communicationprocessing; a second-command-information obtaining processing in whichthe communication terminal uses the first communication interface toobtain, from the information processing apparatus, second commandinformation for commanding data communication with the informationprocessing apparatus over the second wireless communication; and a thirdcommunication processing in which when the second command information isobtained in the second-command-information obtaining processing, thecommunication terminal establishes the second wireless communicationwith the communication terminal by using first setting informationtransferred with the information processing apparatus over the firstwireless communication and carries out the data communication with theinformation processing apparatus over the second wireless communication.

The present invention also provides a non-transitory storage mediumstoring a plurality of instructions executable by a processor of aninformation processing apparatus. The information processing apparatusincludes: a first communication interface configured to carry out firstwireless communication with a communication terminal according to afirst communication standard; a second communication interfaceconfigured to carry out second wireless communication with thecommunication terminal according to a second communication standard; andthe processor. The plurality of instructions, when executed by theprocessor, cause the information processing apparatus to execute: afirst communication processing in which the first communicationinterface establishes the first wireless communication when a distancebetween the communication terminal and the first communication interfaceis equal to or less than a first distance; a first-information obtainingprocessing in which the information processing apparatus obtains firstinformation; a determination processing in which the informationprocessing apparatus determines, based on the first information obtainedin the first-information obtaining processing, whether datacommunication is to be carried out with the communication terminal overone of the first wireless communication and the second wirelesscommunication; a second communication processing in which when theinformation processing apparatus determines, in the determinationprocessing, that the data communication is to be carried out with thecommunication terminal over the first wireless communication, theinformation processing apparatus carries out the data communication withthe communication terminal over the first wireless communicationestablished in the first communication processing; and a thirdcommunication processing in which when the information processingapparatus determines, in the determination processing, that the datacommunication is to be carried out with the communication terminal overthe second wireless communication, the information processing apparatuscarries out data communication of first setting information with thecommunication terminal over the first wireless communication establishedin the first communication processing to establish the second wirelesscommunication with the communication terminal and carries out datacommunication with the communication terminal over the second wirelesscommunication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, features, advantages, and technical and industrialsignificance of the present invention will be better understood byreading the following detailed description of the embodiment of theinvention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a network;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating operations of a multi-functionperipheral (MFP);

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating operations of the MFP;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating operations of the MFP;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating operations of a communicationterminal; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating operations of the communicationterminal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

<Structure of Network 10>

FIG. 1 illustrates a structure of a network 10. The network 10 includescommunication terminals (communication terminal devices or communicationdevices) 100, 101, an MFP 51, and a first access point 501. Here, theMFP is a multi-function peripheral having functions such as a printingfunction, a scanning function, and a copying function.

The communication terminal 100 includes an NFC communication interface112 which can communicate with an NFC communication interface 36 of theMFP 51 over wireless communication 153 according to the NFC (Near FieldCommunication) standard (hereinafter may be referred to as “NFC wirelesscommunication” or “NFC communication”). In the present embodiment, theNFC wireless communication is carried out according to ISO/IEC 21481 or18092.

The communication terminal 100 includes a wireless LAN interface 105which can communicate with a wireless LAN interface 34 of the MFP 51 inan infrastructure mode over wireless communication 151, 154 according tothe wireless LAN standard (hereinafter may be referred to as “wirelessLAN communication”). The wireless LAN interface 105 can also communicatedirectly with the wireless LAN interface 34 of the MFP 51 over wirelesscommunication 155 according to the WiFi Direct (WFD) standard(hereinafter may be referred to as “WFD wireless communication” or “WFDcommunication”). The communication terminal 100 can establish aconnection with the MFP 51 according to the WFD standard to establish aWFD network. The WFD wireless communication is carried out according toIEEE (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 andstandards equivalent to it (e.g., 802.11a, 11b, 11g, and 11n). That is,the communication terminal 100 can transmit a print request and a scanrequest to the MFP 51 over the NFC wireless communication 153 or the WFDwireless communication 155 by executing a print and scan application121.

<Structure of Communication Terminal 100>

The communication terminal 100 is a mobile device such as a mobile phoneand a mobile terminal device. The communication terminal 100 includes adisplay device 102, a touch panel 103, an input interface 104, thewireless LAN interface 105, the NFC communication interface 112, acentral processing unit (CPU) 106, a read only memory (ROM) 107, arandom access memory (RAM) 108, and a storage device 109. These devicesare connected to each other via an input/output port 110.

The display device 102 receives an image signal from the CPU 106 anddisplays an image based on the received image signal. Examples of thedisplay device 102 include a liquid crystal display (LCD) and an organicelectroluminescent panel. The touch panel 103 is formed of a transparentmaterial and superposed on an upper surface of the display device 102.When touched with an input object such as a finger of a user or astylus, the touch panel 103 detects a position of the touch andtransmits information about the detected position to the CPU 106. Theinput interface 104 is constituted by operation buttons, for example.

The NFC communication interface 112 is an interface for carrying out theNFC wireless communication 153. Various kinds of information aboutcommunication settings such as an IP address and an SSID (Service SetIdentifier) is unnecessary for establishing the NFC wirelesscommunication 153. The wireless LAN interface 105 is an interface forcarrying out the wireless LAN communication 151, 155. A communicabledistance or range within which the wireless LAN communication 151, 155can be carried out is greater than a communicable distance or rangewithin which the NFC wireless communication 153 can be carried out.Also, a communication speed or rate in the wireless LAN communication151, 155 is faster than that in the NFC wireless communication 153.

The CPU 106 executes programs stored in the storage device 109. The RAM108 temporarily stores information required for processings to beexecuted by the CPU 106. The storage device 109 is constituted by aflash memory, a hard disc (HDD), a buffer in the CPU 106, and othersimilar devices in combination. The storage device 109 can store imagedata and document data, for example. The storage device 109 stores aprogram 120. The program 120 includes the application 121 and anoperating system (OS) 124. The CPU 106 executes processings according tothe program 120. In the following explanation, the CPU 106 whichexecutes a program such as the application 121 and the OS 124 may bedescribed simply by the name of program. For example, wordings “theapplication 121 executes” may mean wordings “the CPU 106 executing theapplication 121 executes”.

The application 121 causes the CPU 106 to execute, e.g., a processingfor transmitting a print command from the communication terminal 100 tothe MFP 51, for example. The OS 124 is a program which provides basicfunctions and common services for the application 121 and other programsand devices. The OS 124 includes a program for causing the wireless LANinterface 105 and the NFC communication interface 112 to carry outwireless communication. The OS 124 also provides an applicationprogramming interface (API) for causing each program to obtaininformation obtained by hardware or for causing each program to output acommand to hardware.

While the communication terminal 101 is similar in construction to thecommunication terminal 100, most components of the communicationterminal 101 are not illustrated in FIG. 1 for simplicity. Thecommunication terminal 101 can carry out WFD wireless communication 156with the MFP 51.

<Structure of MFP 51>

There will be next explained a structure of the MFP 51. The MFP 51mainly includes a CPU 32, a storage device 33, the wireless LANinterface 34, the NFC communication interface 36, a button input device38, a panel 39, a printer 19, and a scanner 20. These devices arecommunicable with each other via an input/output port 43.

The CPU 32 executes a program 21 stored in the storage device 33. Thestorage device 33 is constituted by a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, a harddisc (HDD), a buffer in a CPU 72, and other similar devices incombination. The storage device 33 stores the program 21. The program 21includes an OS 29.

The NFC communication interface 36 is an interface for carrying out theNFC wireless communication 153. The wireless LAN interface 34 is aninterface for carrying out the wireless LAN communication 154, 155. Thebutton input device 38 includes keys for various functions of the MFP51. The button input device 38 may be formed integrally with the panel39 as a touch panel. The panel 39 displays various kinds of informationabout the functions of the MFP 51. The printer 19 prints an image basedon image data stored in the storage device 33. The scanner 20 reads animage on a document.

<Operations of MFP 51>

There will be next explained operations of the MFP 51 with reference toFIGS. 2-4. A flow illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 begins when the MFP 51 isturned on.

This flow begins with S112 at which the CPU 32 displays a waiting screenon the panel 39. The CPU 32 at S120 determines whether the communicationterminal 100 has touched the MFP 51 or not. Specifically, the CPU 32determines whether the NFC communication interface 112 of thecommunication terminal 100 has been brought into close proximity to theNFC communication interface 36 of the MFP 51 or not, in other words, theCPU 32 determines whether the NFC communication interface 112 of thecommunication terminal 100 has been placed within a predetermineddistance or range around the NFC communication interface 36 or not. Oneexample of the predetermined distance is about 10 cm. When a negativedecision is made at S120 (S120: NO), the CPU 32 repeats the processingat S120. When a positive decision is made at S120 (S120: YES), this flowgoes to S122.

The CPU 32 at S122 controls the NFC communication interface 36 toestablish the NFC wireless communication 153. The CPU 32 at S123transmits WFD-connection setting information to the communicationterminal 100 over the NFC wireless communication 153. The WFD-connectionsetting information is used for establishing the WFD wirelesscommunication 155. One example of information contained in theWFD-connection setting information is a designated SSID. The designatedSSID is an SSID which is designated by the MFP 51 and whose characterstring changes upon each issue. A one-time SSID may be usedalternatively.

The CPU 32 at S124 determines whether the MFP 51 has received a datacommunication request from the communication terminal 100 over the NFCwireless communication 153 or not. The data communication request isinformation for requesting communication of data (e.g., image data)between the communication terminal 100 and the MFP 51. The datacommunication request may be transmitted from the communication terminal100 to the MFP 51 when a data transmission command is transmitted inresponse to a user's input and received by the communication terminal100 in a state in which a program used for the data communication (e.g.,the application 121) is running on the communication terminal 100. Also,in the case where data is transmitted from the communication terminal100 to the MFP 51, the data communication request may containinformation about an amount of data to be transmitted such as the numberof bytes and the number of pages. When a positive decision is made atS124 (S124: YES), this flow goes to S140.

The CPU 32 at S140 determines whether an amount of data to betransferred is smaller than a predetermined amount or not. Thisdetermination may be made by comparing the information about the amountof data transmitted which is contained in the data communicationrequest, with the predetermined amount. The predetermined amount may bedetermined in advance by the user, for example. Also, the predeterminedamount needs to be determined such that a length of time ofcommunication from the start to the end of the data communication is notlonger in a case where the data communication is carried out over theWFD wireless communication 155 after the communication method orcommunication path is switched from the NFC wireless communication 153to the WFD wireless communication 155 than in a case where the datacommunication is carried out over the NFC wireless communication 153without a switch from the NFC wireless communication 153 to the WFDwireless communication 155. That is, when the CPU 32 executesprocessings at S178-S190 for switching the communication method from theNFC wireless communication 153 to the WFD wireless communication 155, aswitching time in which communication cannot be carried out isgenerated, and the predetermined amount needs to be the minimum amountof data in which effects on the switching time cannot be ignored. Thepredetermined amount may be determined as an amount of data to betransferred and may be 100 KB, for example. Also, in a case where datato be transferred is image data corresponding to a plurality of pages,the predetermined amount may be determined as the number of pages andmay be a value of equal to or less than two pages, for example.

When a positive decision is made at S140 (S140: YES), the amount of datato be transferred is small, and accordingly the CPU 32 determines thatthe data communication can be carried out using the current NFC wirelesscommunication 153. In this case, this flow goes to S152. Processings atS152 and subsequent steps will be described later. When a negativedecision is made at S140 (S140: NO), the amount of data to betransferred is large, and accordingly the CPU 32 determines that thecommunication path used for the data communication should be switched tothe WFD wireless communication 155. Thus, this flow goes to S144.

The CPU 32 at S144 displays a WFD-connection check screen on the panel39. The WFD-connection check screen is a screen on which the user inputsa command about whether the communication path for data communication isto be switched to the WFD wireless communication 155 or not. Forexample, the WFD-connection check screen may contain a character string“Do you want to switch from NFC to WFD?” and button images such as a“YES” image and a “NO” image. The CPU 32 at S148 determines whether anexecution command for carrying out the WFD wireless communication 155has been input or not. This determination may be made, for example, bydetermining whether the user has touched the “YES” image or the “NO”image displayed on the WFD-connection check screen. When a positivedecision is made at S148 (S148: YES), this flow goes to S174. When anegative decision is made at S148 (S148: NO), this flow goes to S152.

The CPU 32 at S152 transmits an NFC-communication starting command tothe communication terminal 100 over the NFC wireless communication 153.The NFC-communication starting command is information for commanding thecommunication terminal 100 to transfer data over the NFC wirelesscommunication 153.

The CPU 32 at S156 uses the NFC wireless communication 153 to carry outdata communication with the communication terminal 100. Data to betransferred is divided into a plurality of pieces of communication unitdata. The data communication is carried out for each of the pieces ofcommunication unit data. The pieces of communication unit data may bedefined by various kinds of units. For example, in a case where the datato be transferred is image data representative of a plurality of pages,the pieces of communication unit data respectively represent the pagesof the image data. Also, each of the pieces of communication unit datamay be packet data, for example.

The CPU 32 at S160 determines whether the NFC wireless communication 153has been disconnected during the data communication or not. The NFCwireless communication 153 is disconnected when the communicationterminal 100 is moved away from the MFP 51 to a position which isdistant from the MFP 51 by equal to or greater than the predetermineddistance, for example. When a positive decision is made at S160 (S160:YES), the CPU 32 determines that the communication path needs to beswitched to the WFD wireless communication 155, and this flow goes toS190. When a negative decision is made at S160 (S160: NO), this flowgoes to S164.

The CPU 32 at S164 determines whether the data communication with thecommunication terminal 100 is finished or not. When a negative decisionis made at S164 (S164: NO), this flow returns to S160. When a positivedecision is made at S160 (S164: YES), this flow goes to S166. The CPU 32at S166 executes various data processings. For example, when the datacommunication is a receipt of print data from the communication terminal100, the CPU 32 at S166 executes a print processing based on print data.Upon completion of the processing at S166, this flow returns to S112.

When the CPU 32 at S124 determines that the data communication requesthas not been received (S124: NO), the CPU 32 determines that the programused for the data communication (e.g., the application 121) is notrunning on the communication terminal 100, and this flow goes to S128.The CPU 32 at S128 uses the NFC wireless communication 153 to send thecommunication terminal 100 an application activation command which isinformation for commanding the communication terminal 100 to run theprogram used for the data communication. The CPU 32 at S132 displays theWFD-connection check screen on the panel 39. The WFD-connection checkscreen is explained at S144 above, and an explanation of which isdispensed with. The CPU 32 at S136 determines whether the executioncommand for carrying out the WFD wireless communication 155 has beeninput or not. When a negative decision is made at S136 (S136: NO), thisflow returns to S120. When a positive decision is made at S136 (S136:YES), this flow goes to S174.

The CPU 32 at S174 determines whether the WFD wireless communication 155can be established at this time with the communication terminal 100 ornot. For example, when the wireless LAN interface 34 can establish onlyone WFD wireless communication and when the WFD wireless communication156 is being established with the communication terminal 101, the CPU 32determines that the WFD wireless communication 155 cannot be establishedat this time with the communication terminal 100. When a positivedecision is made at S174 (S174: YES), this flow goes to S178.

The CPU 32 at S178 transmits a WFD-communication starting command to thecommunication terminal 100 over the NFC wireless communication 153. TheWFD-communication starting command is information for commanding thecommunication terminal 100 to execute data communication over the WFDwireless communication 155.

The CPU 32 at S182 determines whether WFD-connection start informationhas been received from the communication terminal 100 over the NFCwireless communication 153 or not. The WFD-connection start informationis information for notifying the MFP 51 that a processing forestablishing the WFD wireless communication 155 has been started on thecommunication terminal 100. When a negative decision is made at S182(S182: NO), the CPU 32 repeats the processing at S182. When a positivedecision is made at S182 (S182: YES), this flow goes to S186 at whichthe CPU 32 transmits a connection-start response to the communicationterminal 100 over the NFC wireless communication 153. Theconnection-start response is information for notifying the communicationterminal 100 that the MFP 51 has started the processing for establishingthe WFD wireless communication 155. The CPU 32 at S190 establishes theWFD wireless communication 155.

The CPU 32 at S198 carries out data communication with the communicationterminal 100 over the WFD wireless communication 155. The CPU 32 at S202determines whether the data communication with the communicationterminal 100 is finished or not. When a negative decision is made atS202 (S202: NO), this flow returns to S198. When a positive decision ismade at S202 (S202: YES), this flow goes to S204. The CPU 32 at S204executes the data processing. The details of the data processing areexplained at S166 above, and an explanation of which is dispensed with.Upon completion of the processing at S204, this flow returns to S112.

When the CPU 32 at S174 determines that the WFD wireless communication155 cannot be established at this time (S174: NO), this flow goes toS206. The CPU 32 at S206 determines whether the NFC wirelesscommunication 153 can be carried out at this time or not. Specifically,the CPU 32 determines whether the NFC communication interface 112 of thecommunication terminal 100 is present within the predetermined distancefrom the NFC communication interface 36 of the MFP 51 or not. When anegative decision is made at S206 (S206: NO), the CPU 32 determines thatthere is no communication path through which the NFC wirelesscommunication 153 can be carried out with the communication terminal100, this flow goes to S210. The CPU 32 at S210 notifies the user aboutan error of the transmission. For example, the CPU 32 may control thepanel 39 to display a character string “Transmission has failed”. Uponcompletion of the processing at S210, this flow returns to S112.

When a positive decision is made at S206 (S206: YES), this flow goes toS214. The CPU 32 at S214 transmits the NFC-communication startingcommand to the communication terminal 100 over the NFC wirelesscommunication 153. The details of the NFC-communication starting commandare explained at S152 above, and an explanation of which is dispensedwith. The CPU 32 at S218 uses the NFC wireless communication 153 tocarry out data communication with the communication terminal 100. Thedetails of the data communication are explained at S156 above, and anexplanation of which is dispensed with.

The CPU 32 at S222 determines whether or not the state between the MFP51 and the communication terminal 100 has been returned to the state inwhich the WFD wireless communication 155 can be established with thecommunication terminal 100. For example, when the WFD wirelesscommunication 156 having been established with the communicationterminal 101 is disconnected, the CPU 32 determines that the statebetween the MFP 51 and the communication terminal 100 has been returnedto the state in which the WFD wireless communication 155 can beestablished with the communication terminal 100. When a negativedecision is made at S222 (S222: NO), this flow returns to S218. When apositive decision is made at S222 (S222: YES), this flow goes to S226.

The CPU 32 at S226 determines whether communication of a certain pieceof communication unit data which is being transferred in the datacommunication over the NFC wireless communication 153 is completed ornot. For example, the CPU 32 may determine whether or not communicationof the certain piece of communication unit data is completed which ismost recently transferred in the data communication over the NFCwireless communication 153. Specifically, the CPU 32 may determinewhether or not communication of a certain piece of communication unitdata is completed which is being transferred at the time when the statein which the WFD wireless communication 155 can be established isestablished at S222. The certain piece of communication unit data is oneof a plurality of pieces of communication unit data. When a negativedecision is made at S226 (S226: NO), the CPU 32 repeats the processingat S226.

When a positive decision is made at S226 (S226: YES), the CPU 32determines that the communication path should be switched to the WFDwireless communication at this timing, and this flow goes to S178. TheMFP 51 at S178 transmits the WFD-communication starting command, at S186transmits the connection-start response, and at S190 establishes the WFDwireless communication 155. The CPU 32 at S198 uses the WFD wirelesscommunication 155 to transmit the next piece of communication unit dataafter the piece of communication unit data whose transfer is determinedto be completed at S226.

<Operations of Communication Terminal 100>

There will be next explained operations of the communication terminal100 with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. A flow illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6begins when the communication terminal 100 is turned on.

This flow begins with S312 at which the CPU 106 determines whether thecommunication terminal 100 has touched the MFP 51 or not. Specifically,the CPU 106 determines whether the NFC communication interface 36 of theMFP 51 is located within a predetermined distance or range around theNFC communication interface 112 of the communication terminal 100 ornot. When a negative decision is made at S312 (S312: NO), the CPU 106repeats the processing at S312. When a positive decision is made at S312(S312: YES), this flow goes to S316. The CPU 106 at S316 controls theNFC communication interface 112 to establish the NFC wirelesscommunication 153.

The CPU 106 at S320 determines whether the WFD-connection settinginformation has been received from the MFP 51 over the NFC wirelesscommunication 153 or not. When a negative decision is made at S320(S320: NO), the CPU 106 repeats the processing at S320. When a positivedecision is made at S320 (S320: YES), this flow goes to S324. The CPU106 at S324 stores the received WFD-connection setting information intothe storage device 109.

The CPU 106 at S328 determines whether an operation for selecting datato be transferred has been accepted or not. For example, in a case whereprint data is to be transmitted to the MFP 51, the CPU 106 determineswhether or not an operation for selecting data to be printed has beenaccepted by the touch panel 103 in the state in which the application121 is running. When a negative decision is made at S328 (S328: NO),this flow goes to S336. When a positive decision is made at S328 (S328:YES), this flow goes to S332. The CPU 106 at S332 transmits the datacommunication request to the MFP 51 over the NFC wireless communication153, and this flow goes to S336.

The CPU 106 at S336 determines whether the application activationcommand has been received from the MFP 51 over the NFC wirelesscommunication 153 or not. When a negative decision is made at S336(S336: NO), this flow goes to S344. When a positive decision is made atS336 (S336: YES), this flow goes to S340. The CPU 106 at S340 activatesthe application 121, and this flow goes to S344.

The CPU 106 at S344 determines whether the NFC-communication startingcommand has been received from the MFP 51 over the NFC wirelesscommunication 153 or not. When a positive decision is made at S344(S344: YES), this flow goes to S348. The CPU 106 at S348 uses the NFCwireless communication 153 to carry out data communication with the MFP51.

The CPU 106 at S352 determines whether the NFC wireless communication153 has been disconnected during the data communication or not. When apositive decision is made at S352 (S352: YES), the CPU 106 determinesthat the communication path needs to be switched to the WFD wirelesscommunication 155, and this flow goes to S372. When a negative decisionis made at S352 (S352: NO), this flow goes to S354. The CPU 106 at S354determines whether the WFD-communication starting command has beenreceived from the MFP 51 over the NFC wireless communication 153 or not.When a positive decision is made at S354 (S354: YES), this flow goes toS364. When a negative decision is made at S354 (S354: NO), this flowgoes to S356.

The CPU 106 at S356 determines whether the data communication with theMFP 51 is finished or not. When a negative decision is made at S356(S356: NO), this flow returns to S352. When a positive decision is madeat S356 (S356: YES), this flow returns to S312.

When the CPU 106 at S344 determines that the NFC-communication startingcommand has not received (S344: NO), this flow goes to S360. The CPU 106at S360 determines whether the WFD-communication starting command hasbeen received from the MFP 51 over the NFC wireless communication 153 ornot. When a negative decision is made at S360 (S360: NO), this flowreturns to S328. When a positive decision is made at S360 (S360: YES),this flow goes to S364.

The CPU 106 at S364 transmits the WFD-connection start information tothe MFP 51 over the NFC wireless communication 153. The CPU 106 at S368determines whether the connection-start response has been received fromthe MFP 51 over the NFC wireless communication 153 or not. When anegative decision is made at S368 (S368: NO), the CPU 106 repeats theprocessing at S368. When a positive decision is made at S368 (S368:YES), this flow goes to S372.

The CPU 106 at S372 establishes the WFD wireless communication 155. TheWFD wireless communication 155 is established based on theWFD-connection setting information stored at S324.

The CPU 106 at S376 uses the WFD wireless communication 155 to carry outdata communication with the MFP 51. The CPU 106 at S380 determineswhether the data communication with the MFP 51 is finished or not. Whena negative decision is made at S380 (S380: NO), this flow returns toS376. When a positive decision is made at S380 (S380: YES), this flowreturns to S312.

<First Specific Example of Operations>

There will be next explained, as a first specific example, operations ina case where the WFD wireless communication 155 is established in aperiod in which the NFC wireless communication 153 is carried outbecause the WFD wireless communication 155 cannot be established. Therewill be explained, by way of example, a case where print data istransmitted from the communication terminal 100 to the MFP 51. In thisexample, the print data is data corresponding to three pages, and a dataamount of the print data is greater than a predetermined amount.

When the user has brought the communication terminal 100 into contactwith the MFP 51 after selecting print data to be transmitted byoperating the communication terminal 100, the contact or touch isdetected (S120: YES, S312: YES). As a result, the NFC wirelesscommunication 153 is started (S122, S316), and the WFD-connectionsetting information is transmitted from the MFP 51 to the communicationterminal 100 (S123, S320: YES). Since the communication terminal 100 hasalready accepted the selection of the print data to be transmitted(S328: YES), the data communication request is transmitted from thecommunication terminal 100 to the MFP 51 (S332, S124: YES).

Since the data amount of the print data is larger than the predeterminedamount (S140: NO), the MFP 51 displays the WFD-connection check screenon the panel 39 (S144). Here, it is assumed that the user inputs theexecution command for carrying out the WFD wireless communication 155(S148: YES), that the MFP 51 cannot establish the WFD wirelesscommunication 155 with the communication terminal 100 because the MFP 51is carrying out the WFD wireless communication 156 with thecommunication terminal 101, and that the NFC wireless communication 153can be carried out at this time (S206: YES).

A piece of the print data representative of the first page istransmitted from the communication terminal 100 to the MFP 51 over theNFC wireless communication 153 (S218, S348). Here, it is assumed thatthe state between the MFP 51 and the communication terminal 100 has beenchanged, during the transmission of the piece of the print datarepresentative of the first page, to the state in which the WFD wirelesscommunication 155 can be established with the communication terminal 100(S222: YES). When having received the piece of the print datarepresentative of the first page over the NFC wireless communication 153(S226: YES), the MFP 51 transmits the WFD-communication starting commandto the communication terminal 100 (S178). When having received theWFD-communication starting command (S354: YES), the communicationterminal 100 establishes the WFD wireless communication 155 (S190,S372). A piece of the print data representative of the second pagestarts to be transmitted from the communication terminal 100 to the MFP51 over the WFD wireless communication 155 (S198, S376).

Upon completion of the transmission of the print data (S202: YES, S380:YES), the MFP 51 executes the print processing to control the printer 19to perform printing based on the received print data (S204).

<Second Specific Example of Operations>

There will be next explained, as a second specific example, operationsin a case where the NFC wireless communication 153 is disconnected in aperiod in which data communication carried out over the NFC wirelesscommunication 153. There will be explained, by way of example, a casewhere print data is transmitted from the communication terminal 100 tothe MFP 51. In this example, a data amount of the print data is lessthan the predetermined amount.

The processings S112-S140 in this example are similar to those in thefirst specific example, and an explanation thereof is dispensed with.Since the data amount of the print data is smaller than thepredetermined amount (S140: YES), the MFP 51 transmits theNFC-communication starting command (S152). When having received theNFC-communication starting command (S344: YES), the communicationterminal 100 uses the NFC wireless communication 153 to transmit theprint data to the MFP 51 (S348, S156).

Here, there will be explained a case where the NFC wirelesscommunication 153 is disconnected during a transfer of the print data(S160: YES, S352: YES). In this case, the WFD wireless communication 155is established (S190, S372), and the transfer of the print data isstarted again over the WFD wireless communication 155 (S198, S376).Operations after this operation are similar to those in the firstspecific example, and an explanation thereof is omitted.

<Effects>

The communication speed in the WFD wireless communication is faster thanthat in the NFC wireless communication. This causes a case where datacommunication is executed after the communication method is switchedfrom the NFC communication to the WFD communication. When the CPU 32executes the processings (S178-S190) for switching the communicationmethod, however, the switching time in which data communication cannotbe carried out is generated. The switching time may cause a situation inwhich a length of time from the start to the end of data communicationis longer in a case where data communication is carried out over the WFDwireless communication 155 with a switch of the communication methodthan in a case where the data communication is carried out over the NFCwireless communication 153 without any switch of the communicationmethod. When starting data communication with the communication terminal100, the MFP 51 described above can select appropriate communicationbetween data communication using the NFC wireless communication 153without any switch and data communication using the WFD wirelesscommunication 155 with a switch, making it possible to prevent a longcommunication time.

In the MFP 51 described above, when the NFC wireless communication 153is disconnected in a period in which data communication is carried outwith the communication terminal 100 over the NFC wireless communication153 (S160: YES), the communication path is automatically switched to theWFD wireless communication 155, allowing the data communication to becontinued (S190, S198). As a result, the communication path can be maderedundant, making it possible to prevent an occurrence of a situation inwhich the data communication cannot be carried out.

When the WFD wireless communication 155 cannot be carried out (S174:NO), the MFP 51 described above can wait for reestablishment of the WFDwireless communication 155 while carrying out the NFC wirelesscommunication 153 (S218). When the WFD wireless communication 155 can beestablished (S222: YES), the communication path can be switched to theWFD wireless communication 155. As a result, a period for waiting forthe establishment of the WFD wireless communication 155 can be used fora period of communication using the NFC wireless communication 153,thereby shortening the communication time. When the communication pathis switched to the WFD wireless communication 155 in the period in whichthe data communication is being carried out over the NFC wirelesscommunication 153, a switch of the communication can be carried out at aboundary between a piece of communication unit data being transferredand the next piece of communication unit data (S226: YES, S190). Thisprocessing can prevent a transmission error in the piece ofcommunication unit data which is being transmitted at the time of theswitch of the communication path.

In the MFP 51 described above, the user can bring the communicationterminal 100 on which the application 121 is not running, into contactwith the MFP 51 to activate the application 121 on the communicationterminal 100 (S128, S340). That is, the intuitive operation allows theuser to activate the application 121 required for controlling the MFP51. This improves usability for the user.

While the embodiment of the present invention has been described above,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the detailsof the illustrated embodiment, but may be embodied with various changesand modifications, which may occur to those skilled in the art, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Modifications

When the NFC wireless communication 153 is established (S122), the CPU32 may control the panel 39 to display a communication-path-selectionaccepting screen on which the user selects a communication path to beused for data communication with the communication terminal 100, betweenthe NFC wireless communication 153 and the WFD wireless communication155. Examples of images displayed on the communication-path-selectionaccepting screen include a character string “Select communication path”and button images such as an “NFC communication” image and a “WFDcommunication” image. The MFP 51 may be configured such that when theNFC wireless communication 153 is selected, the flow goes to S152, andwhen the WFD wireless communication 155 is selected, the flow goes toS174. Thus, the communication path to be used for the data communicationcan be determined by operation of the user. Thecommunication-path-selection accepting screen is one example of anaccepting screen. A processing for displaying thecommunication-path-selection accepting screen on the panel 39 is oneexample of an accepting processing.

The CPU 32 may omit the processing at S128 such that the flow goes fromS124 to S132. This modification can omit the processing for causing thecommunication terminal 100 to activate the application 121. The CPU 32may omit the processings at S144, S148, and when a negative decision ismade at S140 (S140: NO), the flow may go to S174. In this modification,when the CPU 32 determines that the communication path is preferablyswitched to the WFD wireless communication 155, the CPU 32 can start theprocessing for switching the communication path to the WFD wirelesscommunication 155 without a need of operation of the user. The CPU 32may omit the processings at S182, S186, and the flow may go from S178 toS190. This modification can shorten a length of time extending from thetransmission of the WFD-communication starting command to theestablishment of the WFD wireless communication 155. In view of theabove, the CPU 32 of the MFP 51 only needs to execute at least a firstcommunication processing, a first-information obtaining processing, asecond communication processing, and a third communication processing.For example, the CPU 32 only needs to at least execute at least theprocessing at S122, one of S140 and S148, S156, and S198.

The data communication is not limited to the transmission of the printdata from the communication terminal 100 to the MFP 51 and includesvarious kinds of data communication. For example, the data communicationincludes a transmission of scan data from the MFP 51 to thecommunication terminal 100. In this case, the MFP 51 may at S124 receivea data communication request for requesting a transmission of scan datato the communication terminal 100. The MFP 51 may control the scanner 20to scan a document to create scan data. The CPU 32 may at S140 determinewhether data amount of the created scan data is less than thepredetermined amount or not.

Communication standards other than the NFC may be used for communicationstarted when the communication terminal 100 is brought into contact withthe MFP 51. For example, standards such as TransferJet™ may be used. Thecommunication path after the switch is not limited to the WFD wirelesscommunication 155 and may be a communication path in the infrastructuremode via the wireless LAN communication 151, 154.

The communication terminal 100 may be configured such that an externalmemory such as a memory card can be connected to the communicationterminal 100, and various kinds of data may be stored in the externalmemory instead of the storage device 109.

The NFC standard is one example of a first communication standard. TheNFC wireless communication 153 is one example of first wirelesscommunication. Each of the NFC communication interfaces 36, 112 is oneexample of a first communication interface. The WFD standard is oneexample of a second communication standard. The WFD wirelesscommunication 155 is one example of second wireless communication. Eachof the wireless LAN interfaces 34, 105 is one example of a secondcommunication interface. Each of the CPUs 32, 106 is one example of aprocessor. The MFP 51 is one example of an information processingapparatus. The processing at S122 is one example of the firstcommunication processing. The data communication request or theexecution command for carrying out the WFD wireless communication 155 isone example of first information. The processing at S140 or S148 is oneexample of the first-information obtaining processing. The processing atS140 or S148 is one example of a determination processing. Theprocessing at S156 is one example of the second communicationprocessing. The WFD-connection setting information is one example offirst setting information. The processing at S198 is one example of thethird communication processing. The processing at S198 is one example ofa fourth communication processing. The processing at S156 is one exampleof a fifth communication processing. The application 121 is one exampleof a communication program. The processing at S124 is one example of asecond-information obtaining processing. The processing at S128 is oneexample of an output processing. The NFC-communication starting commandis one example of first command information. The processing at S344 isone example of a first-command-information obtaining processing. Theprocessing at S348 is one example of a second communication processing.The WFD-communication starting command is one example of second commandinformation. The processing at S360 is one example of asecond-command-information obtaining processing. The processing at S376is one example of a third communication processing. The processing atS376 is one example of a fourth communication processing.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:a first communication interface configured to carry out first wirelesscommunication with a communication terminal according to a firstcommunication standard; a second communication interface configured tocarry out second wireless communication with the communication terminalaccording to a second communication standard; a processor; and a memoryconfigured to store a plurality of instructions, the plurality ofinstructions, when executed by the processor, causing the informationprocessing apparatus to: transmit connection setting information and anactivation command for commanding the communication terminal to activatean application program to the communication terminal over the firstwireless communication, the connection setting information being usedfor establishing the second wireless communication; and aftertransmitting the activation command to the communication terminal,establish the second wireless communication, with the communicationterminal, in which the connection setting information transmitted fromthe information processing apparatus is used by the communicationterminal, and carry out data communication with the communicationterminal.
 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein, when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructionscause the information processing apparatus to transmit data to thecommunication terminal in the data communication.
 3. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transmitted datain the data communication is image data created by the informationprocessing apparatus.
 4. The information processing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein, when executed by the processor, the plurality ofinstructions cause the information processing apparatus to execute adata processing of processing data transmitted from the communicationterminal.
 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the connection setting information includes an SSID (Service SetIdentifier).
 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim5, wherein a character string of the SSID is changed upon each issue. 7.The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein theSSID is an SSID which is designated by the information processingapparatus.
 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the first communication interface is an NFC (Near FieldCommunication) interface, and wherein the second communication interfaceis a wireless LAN interface.
 9. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein, when an execution command for carryingout the second wireless communication is input on a connection checkscreen, the second wireless communication with the communicationterminal is established by using the connection setting information. 10.A non-transitory storage medium storing a plurality of instructionsexecutable by a processor of an information processing apparatus, theinformation processing apparatus comprising a first communicationinterface configured to carry out first wireless communication with acommunication terminal according to a first communication standard, asecond communication interface configured to carry out second wirelesscommunication with the communication terminal according to a secondcommunication standard, the processor, a memory configured to store theplurality of instructions, wherein the plurality of instructions, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the information processing apparatusto: transmit connection setting information and an activation commandfor commanding the communication terminal to activate an applicationprogram to the communication terminal over the first wirelesscommunication, the connection setting information being used forestablishing the second wireless communication; and after transmittingthe activation command to the communication terminal, establish thesecond wireless communication, with the communication terminal, in whichthe connection setting information transmitted from the informationprocessing apparatus is used by the communication terminal, and carryout data communication with the communication terminal.
 11. Thenon-transitory storage medium according to claim 10, wherein, whenexecuted by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause theinformation processing apparatus to transmit data to the communicationterminal in the data communication.
 12. The non-transitory storagemedium according to claim 11, wherein the transmitted data in the datacommunication is image data created by the information processingapparatus.
 13. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 10,wherein, when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructionscause the information processing apparatus to execute a data processingof processing data transmitted from the communication terminal.
 14. Thenon-transitory storage medium according to claim 10, wherein theconnection setting information includes an SSID (Service SetIdentifier).
 15. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim14, wherein a character string of the SSID is changed upon each issue.16. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 14, wherein theSSID is an SSID which is designated by the information processingapparatus.
 17. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 10,wherein the first communication interface is an NFC (Near FieldCommunication) interface, and wherein the second communication interfaceis a wireless LAN interface.
 18. The non-transitory storage mediumaccording to claim 10, wherein, when an execution command for carryingout the second wireless communication is input on a connection checkscreen, the second wireless communication with the communicationterminal is established by using the connection setting information. 19.A method of information processing by an information processingapparatus, the information processing apparatus comprising a firstcommunication interface configured to carry out first wirelesscommunication with a communication terminal according to a firstcommunication standard, a second communication interface configured tocarry out second wireless communication with the communication terminalaccording to a second communication standard, the method comprising:transmitting connection setting information and an activation commandfor commanding the communication terminal to activate an applicationprogram to the communication terminal over the first wirelesscommunication, the connection setting information being used forestablishing the second wireless communication; and after transmittingthe activation command to the communication terminal, establishing thesecond wireless communication, with the communication terminal, in whichthe connection setting information transmitted from the informationprocessing apparatus is used by the communication terminal, and carryingout data communication with the communication terminal.
 20. The methodaccording to claim 19, wherein, when an execution command for carryingout the second wireless communication is input on a connection checkscreen, the second wireless communication with the communicationterminal is established by using the connection setting information.